By FRANCO PANIZO
Michael Bradley proved last season that he is more than capable of playing well in Serie A, but now he will have to show that he can do so with the pressure that comes from playing at one of the league's premier clubs.
Bradley is set to officially begin his AS Roma tenure on Sunday, as the club kicks off its 2012-2013 campaign against Catania. Bradley has had a full preseason under his belt and should be in the starting lineup for Roma in a match that would mark his first home game inside of the famed Stadio Olimpico. Anything but a win would be considered a disappointment for Roma, so Bradley and his new teammates will need to produce in order to avoid starting the season on the wrong foot.
Another league that will kickoff its new season is the German Bundesliga and several Americans are hopeful of seeing time, including the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim trio of Fabian Johsnon, Danny Williams and Joe Gyau. Hoffenheim visit Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, and picking up a result there would be a good way for the club to redeem itself after the shock 4-0 loss it suffered in the DFB Pokal last Saturday.
This weekend also provides us with match-ups galore. From Jose Torres and Pachuca taking on Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna to DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla facing Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis, there are plenty of interesting battles to keep track of.
Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:
FRIDAY
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest. (Holden is out injured.)
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play SSV Jahn Regensburg.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play FC Union Berlin.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Tim Howard and Everton.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Manchester United. (Dempsey has been left off the traveling roster for the match.)
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play West Bromwich Albion.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Blackburn Rovers.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Millwall.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Portsmouth.
Robbie Rogers and Stevenage play Oldham Athletic.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play Hamburg SV.
Eugene Starikov and Zenit St. Petersburg play FK Rubin Kazan.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play OH Leuven.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play FC Copenhagen.
Brian Span and Djurgardens IF play Alejandro Bedoya and Helsingborgs IF.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Toluca.
SUNDAY
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Arsenal.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Catania.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play Heerenveen.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Pacos de Ferreira.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Benfica.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play Wolfsberger AC.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Esbjerg.
Sean Cunningham and Stabaek IF play Haugesund.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Tromso.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Chad Barrett and Valerenga.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Viking.
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis.
MONDAY
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Rio Ave.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? How do you see Bradley faring? Think all three Americans at Hoffenheim will see time this weekend? Which match-up of Americans Abroad is most intriguing to you?
Share your thoughts below.